Tory group wants Dept of Science

reposted from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7004655.stm

Tory group wants Dept of Science

The report wants more universities to become world-class in science

A Department for Science should be established to raise the profile of the subject among politicians, voters and the media, a Tory task force has said.

Consideration should be given to extra laboratories in primary schools, while children should study design and technology until they were 16, it said.

It also called for top civil servants to take "scientific literacy" courses.

David Cameron called it a "constructive and effective" report. He must decide whether to adopt its ideas as policy.

The task force was chaired by Ian Taylor, who was a science minister the last time the Conservatives were in power.

Its report outlined nine objectives to help a future Tory government "put science at the heart of its plans to enhance the prospects of the UK becoming a sustainable and competitive knowledge-based economy".

We have made it very clear that a Conservative government would broaden the approach to science and technology, advancing innovation and raising the esteem of research David Cameron, Conservative leader

It said there was an "overwhelming" case for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to have a "single voice" in Whitehall.

In education, it recommended that the salaries of teachers of STEM subjects were increased permanently.

The student loans of these teachers should be paid off for them, over a five-year period, to encourage more people to go into the profession, it said.

And it called for the refurbishment of university science laboratories to "receive greater priority" when funding was allocated.

'Key to competitiveness'

To improve scientific literacy in the Civil Service, all newly appointed Permanent Secretaries and senior civil servants would sit a specially tailored course.

Such training would also be available for MPs and members of the European and Scottish Parliaments, plus the Welsh Assembly.

"The Conservative Party is acutely aware that science and engineering are key to our national competitiveness," Mr Cameron said.

"This substantial report sets out a constructive and effective way forward for these vital industries.

"We have made it very clear that a Conservative government would broaden the approach to science and technology, advancing innovation and raising the esteem of research."

The report is one of a series by task forces and policy groups set up by Conservative leader David Cameron to examine policy options for the party. Recommendations are not binding.